Customer Product Newsletter- Bat Boxes
The Birdhouse · 108 East Main Street ·Madison, Indiana · 47250
812-273-1193
The Birdhouse is
at your service.
We want you to have a great experience with the birds and your new feeder. First you should know that all yards are different. What works in one may not in another. That’s why we are at your service to help you troubleshoot any feeder issues you may have. This Product Newsletter has many great tips for you to get started and gives you knowledge of some common issues faced in the backyard.
If you need you need extra answers just give us a call at 812-273-1193 or you can catch us in person at 108 East Main Street in downtown Madison Indiana.
We are available to answer your questions
Mon-Sat 10-5 and
Sun 12-4 (Mar.-Dec.)
We welcome you to visit us often and we’ll look forward to seeing you again soon at The Birdhouse where natural fun is our specialty.
Attracting bats and busting myths.
Bat boxes usually consist of a square box with three to five slats inside placed ¾” apart and made of rough cut lumber to give good footing. .
Bat houses should be hung high and hot. That means they need early morning sun hitting the box until around mid-afternoon. Bats prefer to roost in warm areas, between temperatures of 80-100 degrees. Houses placed on buildings at a height of between 10-20 feet have been more successful than on trees or poles.
Bats are the primary predators of night flying insects. One bat can catch six hundred mosquitoes in a single hour. They eat large amounts of agricultural problem insects like cucumber beetles, leafhoppers and corn rootworms.
Fewer than 25 people in the last 50 years have contracted rabies from bats and all the bites occurred when people attempted to handle bats. In reality bats are less likely to have rabies than stray dogs and cats.
Bats emit high pitched sounds that bounce off objects creating a sonar effect allowing them to be expert fliers. Many people are disturbed at the erratic flight of bats but this is their sonar at work. It is so sensitive that it can sense tiny gnats and mosquitoes in total darkness.
Bats are the only true flying mammals. Bats give birth to live young while hanging in the roost site, the young will nurse for several weeks and cling to the mothers belly until they’re able to fly independently. Female bats usually form a nursery colony consisting of themselves and their young. Males may roost as individuals or in bachelor colonies.
Understanding how bats affect our lives and what we can do to help them may lead to less fear and more appreciation for these incredible creatures. For without bats the real horror show of trillions of insects invading our yards and towns would come true!
108 East Main Street Madison Indiana 47250 812 273 1193 800 279 1193
WILD BIRD AND NATURE SHOP
Answer Your Bat Box Questions